Mark Gastineau Biography

Mark Gastineau, born November 20, 1956, played ten seasons in the National Football League as a defensive end for the New York Jets. Gastineau played college football for the East Central Tigers after stints with the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters and Arizona State Sun Devils. Selected by the Jets in the second round of the 1979 NFL draft, he joined the team's defensive unit. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1982 and became the first player to lead the league in sacks during consecutive seasons. Gastineau was honored with induction into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2012 for his contributions to the team. He began his collegiate career at Eastern Arizona Junior College in 1975, earning All-America recognition in his first season. The Jets' coaching staff, needing a defensive lineman for the Senior Bowl, chose Gastineau after a phone conversation with him.